PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vladislav Draxx (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Forrest Griffen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Forrest Griffen will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Draxx
vs
Griffen

185 cm
21
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

191 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Vladislav Draxx!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Forrest Griffen!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Griffen shoots in but Draxx avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Griffen misses with a takedown attempt - Draxx sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Horrible takedown by Griffen or perhaps it was just good defense by Draxx which made him look bad.
Vladislav Draxx has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Forrest Griffen.

Draxx closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Griffen sneaks back into half guard.
Griffen trying to control here.
Draxx throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Griffen trying to control here.
Griffen might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Draxx kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Griffen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Griffen regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Draxx tries to free his leg and advance position but Griffen is retaining full guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Griffen trying to control the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Draxx moves into range and clinches up with Griffen.

Griffen drags the fight down to the ground.

Griffen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Griffen looks gassed!
Draxx wants to pass the guard but Griffen is keeping the position.

Draxx stands up from Griffen's guard - Draxx perhaps looking for a knockout.
Draxx wants to clinch up but Griffen keeps it at a distance.

Draxx darts in and clinches Griffen up against the cage.
Draxx tries to pull guard but Griffen won't allow it.
Draxx fails to pull guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Griffen has hold of one of Draxx's legs. Draxx is fighting the takedown attempt but Griffen gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Griffen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Draxx throws his legs up looking for a submission but Griffen uses it to pass to side control.
Griffen taking a breather here.
Draxx is not content to let Griffen control the position.
You can see the frustration on Draxx's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Draxx sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Draxx is trying to get back to full guard.
Draxx trying to control but Griffen postures up.
Draxx is not content to let Griffen control the position.
Draxx is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Vladislav Draxx will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Draxx tries to clinch there but Griffen circles away.

Draxx decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Griffen trying to control here.

Griffen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Draxx seems to be working for a kimura but Griffen defends the submission attempt.
Draxx seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Griffen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Griffen is looking to control Draxx's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Griffen avoid being mounted?
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Griffen is looking to improve his position.
Draxx winds up and cracks Griffen with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Griffen tries for a takedown but Draxx circles away easily

and Draxx holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Draxx lands an elbow inside.

Griffen gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Draxx regains guard.
Griffen passes into half guard.
Draxx wants to improve his position but Griffen is controlling well.

Draxx looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Griffen is looking for a kimura here.
Griffen is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Griffen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Draxx is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Griffen working for a guillotine from mount but Draxx is in no mood to give up.
Draxx regains half guard.

Griffen is working for a submission of some sort.
Griffen lands strikes from half guard.
Griffen trying to control the action but Draxx is working from the bottom.

Griffen is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Draxx doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Griffen.
Griffen tries to pass the half guard into mount. Draxx knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Forrest Griffen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Draxx closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Griffen trying to hold on to Draxx's head to control him but Draxx postures up.
Griffen regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Draxx.

Griffen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Draxx postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Griffen is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Draxx, into his guard.
Griffen looking to pass the guard.

Draxx has his feet on Griffen's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Draxx gets the takedown into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Draxx controlling the position from side mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Griffen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Griffen manages to get back to half guard.
Griffen is controlling Draxx's position as best he can from this difficult position.

Draxx seems to be working for a kimura but Griffen defends the submission attempt.
Griffen gets back to full guard.
Draxx is fighting to break Griffen's control of his arms but Griffen is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Draxx stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Griffen swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Griffen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Draxx can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Griffen keeping moving, preventing Draxx from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffen wants to sweep but no luck.
Griffen working a defensive guard here.
Griffen is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Draxx missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Draxx scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Griffen is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Draxx off and has taken his back!

Griffen working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Draxx rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Griffen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Draxx keeps working.

Griffen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Vladislav Draxx did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Draxx looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Griffen!
Griffen is looking to get to half guard.
Griffen bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Griffen trying to control but Draxx is working from the bottom.
Griffen postures up.
Griffen wants to control from the top but Draxx keeps moving.

Griffen drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Draxx dives on top into guard.
Griffen is trying to control the position but Draxx postures up.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

Griffen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Draxx looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Draxx postures up.
Griffen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Draxx is one step ahead there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Griffen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Griffen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Draxx is one step ahead there.
Griffen lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Draxx!
Draxx taking shots to the head.
Draxx tries to hold on but Griffen pushes him away.
Draxx is working to get back to half guard.
Griffen controlling his opponent.
Draxx is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Draxx is squirming around, avoiding Griffen's attempts to control the action.
Draxx bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Draxx drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Draxx jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Forrest Griffen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Griffen keeping moving, preventing Draxx from controlling successfully.

Griffen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Draxx slips nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Forrest Griffen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Draxx looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Griffen!

Draxx working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Griffen is looking to improve his position but Draxx isn't that keen on the idea.
Griffen bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Griffen trying to control but Draxx is working from the bottom.
Draxx keeping full guard, as Griffen tries to pass.
Griffen passes Draxx's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

Griffen is working for a kimura but Draxx is defending it quite comfortably.
Griffen is looking to take a break and control but Draxx is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Griffen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Griffen wants to pass the guard but Draxx is defending well.

Griffen is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Draxx doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Griffen.
Griffen stalling away here and it's allowed Draxx to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Griffen trying to control the position from guard on top but Draxx is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Griffen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Draxx is keeping the position for now.
Draxx wants to stand but Griffen is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Griffen pushes down on Draxx's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Draxx is trying to control but can't.
Griffen is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Draxx reverses the position - he's now on top in Griffen's guard.
Draxx in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Griffen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Draxx trying to control the position from guard on top but Griffen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Griffen controls Draxx momentarily but Draxx frees himself.
Draxx pushes down on Griffen's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Draxx is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Vladislav Draxx.
I think Draxx has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Andi Peters scores the fight for Vladislav Draxx!
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight for Vladislav Draxx!
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight for Forrest Griffen!

Vladislav Draxx wins by split decision!